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Lamine Yamal: The Toddler Messi Held For A Photoshoot Is A Wunderkind 16 Years Later

From a baby in a plastic tub held by a shy Messi to becoming a record-breaking wunderkind, Lamine Yamal’s journey is hailed by many and the Barcelona player who turns 17 on this Saturday is called as the future of football.

Lamine Yamal Edited by Updated: Jul 10, 2024, 3:40 am
Lamine Yamal: The Toddler Messi Held For A Photoshoot Is A Wunderkind 16 Years Later

The Toddler Messi Held For A Photoshoot Is A Wunderkind 16 Years Later [Image: x.com/EURO2024 (L) facebook.com/fabrizioromanoherewego (R)]

In the autumn of 2007, a charity calendar shoot at Barcelona’s Camp Nou brought together two futures in an unexpected twist of fate. Xavier Monfort, a 56-year-old freelance photographer, according to The Guardian, captured a moment that would gain significance years later. The photoshoot was organized by Diario Sport and Unicef that featured Barcelona players posing with children and their families. Among them was Lionel Messi, then 20 and already a big name in International football with two La Liga titles, one UEFA Champions League and FIFA World Youth Championship, and a Ballon d’Or two years later, holding a baby named Lamine Yamal in a plastic tub.

“We made the calendar with the help of Unicef,” Monfort explained to the English daily. “Unicef held a raffle in the Roca Fonda neighborhood in Mataró, where Lamine’s family lived. They signed up and won the chance to have their picture taken at Camp Nou with a Barça player.”

For Messi, famously introverted, the shoot wasn’t smooth and the future legend of the game struggled to interact with the baby. “Messi is a pretty shy guy,” Monfort said. “He came out of the locker room to find himself in another locker room with a baby in a plastic tub full of water. It was complicated. He didn’t even know how to hold him at first.”

Fast forward to Euro 2024, and that baby, Lamine Yamal, has become a football sensation. In a stunning display, Yamal on Tuesday equalised in the 21st minute against France with a left-footed curler from outside the box, beating France’s keeper Mike Maignan. This goal not only helped Spain secure a 2-1 victory over France but also made Yamal the youngest player ever to score in Euros history, breaking Pele’s record for the youngest player to score in a major international tournament.

Lamine Yamal, now 16, had already made headlines a year ago with a brilliant goal in the Under-17 Euros. Known for his style, the youngster often drifts inward from the right flank to unleash lethal left-footers, a skill he showcased again at Euro 2024.

In Euro 2024 in general and especially against France, the teenage sensation’s performance has been nothing short of extraordinary. After making his professional debut at just 15 and becoming a regular starter for club and country at 16, Yamal’s impact on the tournament has been profound. His goal against France propelled Spain to the Euro 2024 finals, marking a historic achievement as Spain became the first-ever side to win six consecutive games in the tournament.

Reflecting on that photoshoot 16 years ago, Monfort told The Guardian, “Who would have thought that the baby Messi held awkwardly would grow up to break records and shine on such a grand stage? It’s incredible to witness.”

From a baby in a plastic tub held by a shy Messi to becoming a record-breaking wunderkind, Lamine Yamal’s journey is hailed by many and the Barcelona player who turns 17 on this Saturday is called as the future of football.

Topics
Euro 2024 Lamine Yamal lionel messi wonderkid Wonderkids

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